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Mets Win, Acquire Nixon
By gozer on June 14th, 2008 12:31 AM |
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on Saturday, June 14th, 2008 at 12:31 am and is filed under Baseball, Mets Rumors & News.
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The Mets have acquired outfielder Trot Nixon, and this Met fan couldn’t be happier.
Following their 7-1 win over the visiting Rangers tonight, GM Omar Minaya announced that the team had traded for Nixon in exchange for cash or a player to be named later. Nixon had been playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate, hitting .309 with a .437 OBP, 15 doubles, 10 homers, and 31 RBI.
Perhaps my enthusiasm in response to this move is more a reflection of just how far the Mets have fallen, but I have grown sick and tired of watching this organization sit on its hands while the season slips away. Is Nixon a game-changer? No. He is a gritty dirt dog, a fiery competitor, a strong defender, and a left-handed bat with some pop. I expect Nixon will be an every day player for a Mets lineup devoid of its starting corner outfielders after injuries to Ryan Church and Moises Alou.
“He’s a hard-nosed player,” David Wright said. “He’s a guy who’s going to go out there and get dirty. He’s a guy that plays with a lot of intensity, and I think that’s a good thing both on the field and as a clubhouse guy. He’s been on a championship team. He knows what it takes to win and he’ll go out there and give you something day in and day out.”
In short, it’s a night of optimism for Met fans. Is that such a bad thing?
There are currently 8 responses to “Mets Win, Acquire Nixon”
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Great pickup. The Mets could use a lot more guys like him.
Yea, another old player on the Mets. That should turn things right around.
This trade is better for Nixon than it is for the Mets. He isn’t a minor leaguer anymore. I can’t see this as a move that will help the Mets in any way. He can’t hit any more and he was never a great outfielder. At best the Mets are getting someone who isn’t an automatic out against right handed pitching. At worst this guy will be released in two weeks. At least they didn’t give anyone up for him.
Jon - I knew you’d say that! I almost put it in the article even…
Rob - Just because a 34-year-old player finds himself in AAA doesn’t mean he’s washed up. He hit .288 for the Indians in the second half last season, which, sadly, is better than any current Met is hitting save for Jose Reyes (by the way, would any casual fan believe you if you told them Reyes leads the team in batting average?). With Chris Young and Justin Upton entrenched in the Arizona outfield, Nixon was fighting for a spot in spring training and basically lost out to Jeff Salazar. Big deal, it happens. It says something about the guy’s character that he proceeds to go down to the minors and rake. Also, for someone who goes by moniker In The Dirt, I’m surprised you don’t think a dirt dog like Nixon could improve the culture of the Mutts.
Improving the culture is one thing. Improving the offense is another. This move seems to me like the Mets are grasping at straws. You say your tired of the Mets sitting back and doing nothing, is this really much better than nothing?
I also admitted that my enthusiasm might be more a reflection of just how far the Mets have fallen…but yes, something is by definition better than nothing, and like I said, I don’t believe Nixon is washed up. With Church and Alou both giant question marks, I still think the Mets need to find a right handed outfielder to platoon with Trot, but this is definitely a step in the right direction. Problem is, Omar is running out of time to find that guy. You say at worst this guy will be released in two weeks. I just don’t see that happening. At best, he’s a productive bat against right handed pitching. Look at the Mets left-handed bench - Endy Chavez, Marlon Anderson - where’s the pop? It’s a major weakness for this team, and it makes Willie’s cabinet a little less bare.
I agree with both, Jeff Freier and J Atwood…
yet, the only thing worse than watching the Mets get older, is watching Mets get soft.
This team has zero personality and won’t talk to the press. I want John McEnrow, Not boring Bjorn Borg.
Think Lou Pinella, Eric Byrnes… not Willy Randolph and David Wright. And, how ’bout those Carlos é Carlos inteviews?
Keep ‘me coming!
We need a someone to step. David Wright tried to do it, but wasn’t good enough. Can we trade a bag of balls for Scott Kazmir or Brian Bannister?
That’s what our player personel thought of them. Bottom line is Gozer’s right… sadly Mets desperately need Nixon’s bat and personality.
Oddly enough Jeff, I find myself agreeing with you for once. While I don’t think Nixon will provide a whole lot offensively, signing Nixon in no way hurts the Mets and can at worst change nothing.
What the Mets need more than offense right now is what Nixon can still provide: character and work ethic. Nixon is a gritty, In The Dirt type player. There is nothing gritty about the Mets. They are as laissez faire a group as you’ll find.
I don’t think Nixon provides anything offensively, and is just another old guy on an aging team, but still has more spunk and character than anyone else on the team.